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Clash over foot-and-mouth 'cash' | Clash over foot-and-mouth 'cash' |
(10 minutes later) | |
A row has broken out after the first minister accused the UK Government of withdrawing £8m in support for farmers affected by foot-and-mouth measures. | |
Alex Salmond made the claim at Westminster a day after describing Scotland's allocation of money from the Treasury as a "disgrace". | |
It is thought Scottish Government officials saw a document which offered cash to Scotland for animal welfare. | It is thought Scottish Government officials saw a document which offered cash to Scotland for animal welfare. |
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has declined to comment. | |
Mr Salmond said that the offer of financial assistance to help farmers hit by animal movement restrictions as a result of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in England has failed to materialise. | |
He claimed that Prime Minister Gordon Brown's decision not to call an election this year may have resulted in the cash offer being withdrawn. | |
'Financial ruin' | 'Financial ruin' |
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Jim Hume has signed a petition calling on the UK Government to provide financial compensation to all farmers who suffered financial loss in the recent foot-and-mouth outbreak. | |
The South of Scotland MSP said: "Many Scottish farmers are facing financial ruin as a consequence of the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth. | |
"I want to see a commitment from the Westminster government that Scottish farmers will not be left out of pocket by an outbreak which is not their responsibility. | "I want to see a commitment from the Westminster government that Scottish farmers will not be left out of pocket by an outbreak which is not their responsibility. |
"I have also tabled questions in the Scottish Parliament to ascertain what further action is being considered by the Scottish Government to help farmers." | |